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What is A2J Author?

The Software

A2J Author ® is a software tool developed by CALI and the Center for Access to Justice & Technology at IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law to deliver greater access to justice for self-represented litigants by enabling lawyers and law students to rapidly build user-friendly web-based document assembly tools called A2J Guided Interviews®. These A2J Guided Interviews allow users to complete court documents by presenting a series of easy-to-understand questions while graphics virtually lead users along the path to the courthouse, where these documents can be filed. A2J Author ® is currently used in more than 42 states, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Guam, Australia, and Canada. More than 1,100 A2J Guided Interviews are actively used on the national server, Law Help Interactive. These A2J Guided Interviews have been used by self-represented litigants more than 4,000,000 times since 2005. A2J Author version 6.0 is mobile responsive, allowing users to access the A2J Guided Interviews from any Web browser, including a smartphone. An internal document assembly tool has also been added, allowing for complete PDF document assembly packages entirely within A2J Author.

Partnership with Law School Clinics

In partnership with IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, CALI® has developed a model program for CALI® member schools that integrates A2J Author® into law school clinics. This model program can be viewed at http://a2jclinic.classcaster.net/ In Spring of 2013, six law schools began a pilot program to develop A2J Course Kits. To date, more than 12 law schools have participated in the A2J Clinic or A2J Course Project. Each participating faculty member integrated the teaching of A2J Author model into their clinic or courses to develop an original course offering at their law school. Upon completion of the course, the faculty members deliver a course kit that includes a syllabus, a list of course materials, and a process for completing A2J Guided Interviews, along with a teacher’s manual explaining their methodology for teaching the course. These course kits will be made available to CALI® member school free of charge. For more information, visit a2jauthor.org